]]>By: Matissehttp://blog.timesunion.com/crime/herrick-timmons-downtown-buddies-were-on-a-combat-patrol-when-random-shot-killed-girl/339/#comment-328
Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:44:07 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/crime/?p=339#comment-328**What can we do to help these people!**

Why is it not their responsibility to do something to help themselves

]]>By: Matissehttp://blog.timesunion.com/crime/herrick-timmons-downtown-buddies-were-on-a-combat-patrol-when-random-shot-killed-girl/339/#comment-327
Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:39:20 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/crime/?p=339#comment-327**local government should be doing more to prevent tragedies like this from happening***

Why is this the responsibility of the government and not the responsibility of the parents of the children who are commiting these crimes?

When you allow your children to repeatedly engage in criminal behavior without enforcing consequnces, these incidents are exactly what happens. These incidents will continue until parents accept responsibililty to parent the children they create, and stop allwoing them to conduct themselves with immunity from consequences.

What do parents teach children when they allow them to skip school, do drugs, and repeatedly refuse to conform to the norms of society? They teach them that this behavior is acceptable. Why is it the responsibility of the goverment to teach them otherwise?

You blame overall society for Mr. Timmon’s downfall? You claim there needs to be (more) services in place to help these children? Sorry, I don’t agree.

Mr. Timmons was 15 years old at the time of this incident. I’m pretty sure he understood what happens when people are hit with bullets. And I think it’s a reasonable assumption that he knew he was no sure-shot marksman. Yet knowing these above factors, he willingly pulled the trigger at his “enemies” on a crowded street.

I don’t know what world you people live in, but I believe in responsibility for one’s own actions. This wasn’t some 5 year old child with no real grasp on life and death that pulled the trigger. This was a 15 year old child that willingly pulled the trigger with the intent to harm. Had Mr. Timmons been found to have some sort of severe mental defect that blurred his perception of his surrounding environments and moral understanding, I would feel that the sentencing was a little too harsh and misguided at best.

But again, I think it’s pretty safe to assume Mr. Timmons knew and understood what he was doing that fateful day. And in that respect, he needs to be punished for his behavior.

]]>By: WordsofChoicehttp://blog.timesunion.com/crime/herrick-timmons-downtown-buddies-were-on-a-combat-patrol-when-random-shot-killed-girl/339/#comment-325
Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:57:16 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/crime/?p=339#comment-325Nature and Nurture combine to create a person. Who gave Jermayne his moral values and who should have? I think Anthony is right in a way, we are failing these kids. Anyone can have children in America, no experience required, no financial means, no responsibly to nurture them to be responsible productive citizen adults. Heck why not have a bunch! What can we do to help these people! They need services with no repercussions. Seriously now, we probably need a population plan for this nation, focusing on how to remove incentives that promote this societal decay and hold parents accountable for their failure. What parenting values are unAmerican?
]]>By: shockedpayerhttp://blog.timesunion.com/crime/herrick-timmons-downtown-buddies-were-on-a-combat-patrol-when-random-shot-killed-girl/339/#comment-324
Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:57:10 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/crime/?p=339#comment-324#4 Anthony. Stop blaming everyone else. Government, school districts and neighborhoods do not make you do anything. There are countless urban youth from Albany and all over our country that made themselves into something. We are always looking for someone to blame. He needs to look in to the mirror and there is where the blame lies. Yes, it was stupid on his part and it is a shame but you can not blame the city, government, police, etc. You are your own worst enemy.

There was a school he could have been in that day and he chose to leave. The youth in this city needs a major reality check. Stop blaming others!! You have black council members, congressmen/women, senators, mayors, lawyers, doctors, secretary of states and a black president who all came from difficult backgrounds and look what became of them! Come on now!

]]>By: BeeDeehttp://blog.timesunion.com/crime/herrick-timmons-downtown-buddies-were-on-a-combat-patrol-when-random-shot-killed-girl/339/#comment-323
Sat, 07 Mar 2009 06:07:08 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/crime/?p=339#comment-323Anthony…..It all comes down to one word, RESPONSIBILITY. Where were all the devastated Timmons family members when Jermayne was running the streets, skipping school and playing with guns? It is the school districts fault? The communities fault? I don’t think so. Ownership of this tragedy lies on the backs of Jermayne Timmons and his parents. The school district, community, or the legal system didn’t fail Jermayne Timmons…..Jermayne Timmons along with his parents failed Jermayne Timmons. In 15 years, he will have the opportunity to make better of his life. In 15 years, Kathina Thomas will still be dead.
]]>By: LATHAMGUYhttp://blog.timesunion.com/crime/herrick-timmons-downtown-buddies-were-on-a-combat-patrol-when-random-shot-killed-girl/339/#comment-318
Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:51:36 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/crime/?p=339#comment-318Anthony, what would you do instead? Would you take this kid into into your home, blend him with your family, and take full responsibility for him for the next 15 (or more) years? I think not.
]]>By: Anthonyhttp://blog.timesunion.com/crime/herrick-timmons-downtown-buddies-were-on-a-combat-patrol-when-random-shot-killed-girl/339/#comment-322
Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:33:15 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/crime/?p=339#comment-322This sentencing is disgusting. This boy is a product of his environment and the Albany community and local government should be doing more to prevent tragedies like this from happening instead of sending a sixteen year old to prison until he is in his thirties. There is no such thing as an inherently evil or dangerous person. This is a boy who lacked direction, who probably felt that protecting a neighborhood territory and wielding a gun was the only way to exact respect out of his peers, and who felt powerless not only in school but in his personal life. I have no doubt that the judge and prosecuting attorney are experts in the law, but that does not mean they are experts in humanity or forgiveness.

If I grew up in Jermayne’s neighborhood I have no doubt I would have ended up in a similar position. Likewise, if Jermayne grew up in a different neighborhood, maybe in Clifton Park or Saratoga Springs, he would have never ended up in this position. If he could have latched on to someone in his community that inspired him – a parent, a teacher, a guidance counselor, a coach, etc. – this may have been prevented. It’s abhorrent that people are so quick to deal out judgment without first engrossing themselves in a person’s reality. Jermayne would not be in this position and Kathina Thompson would not be dead if this neighborhood wasn’t such a cesspool of perpetual anger, fear, and hopelessness.

This capital district community has a responsibility to target young people and help them as best as we can to become responsible, educated, caring members of our society. Public schools are not equipped to do this alone. When another tragedy like this happens in the future – and it will – we will all be at fault for doing nothing about changing the realities of these teens.

]]>By: johnhttp://blog.timesunion.com/crime/herrick-timmons-downtown-buddies-were-on-a-combat-patrol-when-random-shot-killed-girl/339/#comment-321
Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:56:27 +0000http://blogs.timesunion.com/crime/?p=339#comment-321when the judge sentanced jermayne,he mentioned “pot” as a contributing factor.this when the nys lawmakers are on the verge of mitagating drug offense laws.this sends a confuseing message.well chalk up two children lost,kathina,so tragically,by the thoughtless but apparently unintended act of a 15 year old boy.and jermayne who will be also lost after fifteen years in prison.gotta be a better way.
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